Islamic Gunmen Push Into Iraq's Sunni Heartland

WochitJun. 11, 2014. 01:21 PM EST

Al-Qaida-inspired militants pushed deeper into Iraq's Sunni heartland Wednesday, swiftly conquering Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit as soldiers and security forces abandoned their posts and yielded ground once controlled by U.S. forces. The advance into former insurgent strongholds that had largely been calm before the Americans withdrew less than three years ago is spreading fear that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will be unable to stop the Islamic militants as they press closer to Baghdad.
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